Killing Clover & Chickweed

Anyone who has ever cut grass or cared for a lawn can attest to the abundance of white clover. While honeybees may love it, most homeowners find it to be an ugly weed, one that can quickly spread like a wildfire without the proper maintenance. The good news is white clover can be easily controlled with a few chemicals.

White clover is found throughout the United States. The white clover plant is recognizable by its white flowers and its compound leaves divided into three leaflets which are all joined at a central point and originate at the nodes along the stems. It is a shallow rooted winter perennial legume, which spreads by stolons, or above ground runners. The plant takes root from the stolons at nodes along the stems when they come in contact with the soil. It is adapted to many soils, but tends to grow best in soils that are moist and low in nitrogen. Clover is frequently a problem in lawns closely mowed lawns and soils low in nitrogen.

Now that you know some more information about this pesky weed, here are a few tips for keeping white clover at bay:

The first step is to purchase Clover Killer. It has a new formulation to control common chickweed, clover, and mouse ear, yet is still safe for your lawn. Clover Killer, which will cover up to 4,800 square feet, will kill the roots, leaving the rest of your lawn in great condition. It is a post-emergence control for grassy weeds formulated to specifically attack the roots!

The second step is critical for optimal application. Always mix a "Spreader Sticker" with the weed killing chemical; we recommend Wilt Pruf. Mixing a spreader sticker (1 oz. per gallon) with a weed killer will ensure the chemical spreads over the entire foliage area and then sticks! As an added benefit, spreader sticker will keep an application from washing off during an unexpected spring rain storm!

Now that you are prepared with proper tools and herbicides, spot treat the infested areas. The weed should begin to wilt, and brown, within five days. You’ll want to continue this as needed every two weeks until you have killed off that nasty clover! It should not take more than 2-3 applications to wipe out even the most mature clover.

A couple of other notes:

For best results, apply Clover Killer to the lawn in the morning (after dew has dried) on a sunny, calm day; this allows for maximum absorption of the weed killer.

Higher temperatures result in a quicker uptake of this product for faster control. However, do not apply Crabgrass Killer if temperatures exceed 90 degrees. If daytime temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees, apply the product in early morning when it is cooler.

The combination of Clover Killer and Wilt Pruf will take care of your white clover weed problem!

Garden.com has a wide selection of products to eliminate weeds and unwanted grasses!